Here’s a little secret about my reading habits: in even numbered years I either use a TBR (to be read) jar to pick my next book or I arrange my TBR pile in alphabetical order and work my way from letter A onwards. In odd years, I read by whim. The reasoning is that when I’m stricter with the TBR, I will read more surprises. The whim reading years are always the better ones though with only one or two that I abandon as opposed to the handful when I’m more rigid with my reading.
This was a whim year and, so far, I have read a lot of strong novels, both fiction and non-fiction. Here are some which stood out:
Widow Basquiat by Jennifer Clement (2000)
I am fascinated by the New York arts scene – ranging from music to painting. I haven’t read much about Jean Michel Basquiat [Ed: described by Wikkipedia as n American artist who rose to success during the 1980s as part of the neo-expressionism movement] so this biography was a perfect opportunity. I am a fan of a good biography; I’m a bigger fan if it is a approached in a non-standard way.
The book centres around Basquiat’s relationship with Suzanne Mallouk, a Canadian-born painter, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst, based in New York City.
In real life Jennifer Clement is a close friend and the book is written from Clement’s perspective with interjections from Suzanne, culled from conversations the two had with each other.
What emerges is Basquiat’s wish for more Afro-Americans to infiltrate the art world but also a domineering person who could not cope with fame and resorted to heavy drug use, verbally abusive behaviour and extravagant spending (one example consists of him painting in Armani suits, getting them filthy and then throwing them away).
Equally an entertaining and eyebrow raising book.
Septology by Jon Fosse (2019 – 2021), English edition translated by Damion Searls.
How can one describe this marvel in one sentence? A seven-part novel which incorporates examinations of morality, art, the doppelganger, memory, grief and religion. I’m just touching the surface. Plotwise it’s about an artist who must deliver his paintings to a gallery. At the same time he’s debating whether to attend Christmas dinner at his best friend’s house.
There are books which will change your perspective of life or at least step back and examine it. Septology is one of those books.
Small Boat by Vincent Delacroix (2023) , English translation by Helen Stevenson (2025).
I found this year’s International Booker to be weak. When there are thirteen books in a longlist, there’s the possibility you like or dislike the majority, This time round I only liked three of the books. Small Boat, was the standout.
The novel is based on an event where a boat of migrants capsized in French waters, with two survivors. Vincent Delecroix is a philosopher, and he applies his Kierkegaard influenced theories in the book.
There are three sections, The first concerns the French coastguard being interrogated by the Police, This section is the more introspective part of the book. The second part is from a drowning refugee’s point of view – although the least philosophical it’s the most harrowing. The novel concludes with a meditation about the sea. The fact that this book did not win The 2025 International Booker is a sore point with me.
All Fours by Miranda July (2024)
I know Miranda July for her arty films, and in a way All Fours does carry that vibe. The thing is that it also is about a topic that I don’t think is really explored in novels and that is peri menopause.
The narrator is a 45-year-old woman who is feeling changes with her body. As a way of coping, she decides to go on a holiday but instead just stays at a hotel and redoes it.
In the process she tries to start an affair with another guy, experiments with lesbianism and feel dissatisfaction with her marriage. If all this sounds serious, do not worry, It is a very funny novel, especially if you are a fan of Seinfeld type of humour. When an author can balance serious topics with laughs, my respect for them increases. Whether this is an accurate description of peri menopause, whether Miranda July did research on the topic and she is roughly the same age as the main protagonist, I do not know but I did feel that I learnt something and I do hope that All Fours will start peri menopausal literature.
Ti Amo by Hanne Ørstavik (2020) translated by Martin Atkins (2022)
I have said so much about this book over the past few months, I have nearly exhausted myself! The following is taken from a review I wrote at the time:
Ti Amo is a novella that will rip your heart and soul apart: A newly wedded author is watching her husband slowly waste away from cancer. In the mean, she feels that the duty of a writer is to seek the truth and put it on paper – yet this truth is a hard one to face. The author is trapped between two choices which is causing a breakdown of sort.
In 93 pages Ti Amo not only carries a strong emotional resonance but also provides food for thought. Really though this book is about the unwavering strength of love. With writing this beautiful it’s hard not to be drawn into this book.
I highly recommend this book. If anyone is going through the same thing, I’m sure it would be a difficult read but the topic is handled delicately.
